After much dissent from the community, the Hopkinsville City Council is not taking a 50 percent pay raise.
Tuesday night, City Council was set to hear the second reading of an ordinance to increase the pay to $20,000 annually. Many residents turned out again to speak against the move.
Councilman Travis Martin tried to amend the motion to include step increases over a three-year period to less the impact. That amendment failed. Councilman Chuck Crabtree moved to make the raise more inline with what residents and employees receive.
click to download audioThe motion passed 10-2 with Councilmembers Clayton Sumner and Seth Meek voting no. A second reading of the amended motion, which raised the pay to $15,628, will be at the first Council meeting in March.
In other business, the city received a clean audit from York Neel, who presented its findings at the meeting. Chief Financial Officer, Melissa Clayton presented January payroll numbers.
click to download audioShe says they have looked into why this is trending down.
click to download audioThe City is preparing for next year’s budget, and decreases like this will factor into Clayton’s estimated revenue for the year.
